The General Motors Foundation and Cadillac will help pave the way
from Motown to Manhattan for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra this May as
it prepares to perform at Carnegie Hall for the first time in 17 years.
The GM Foundation provided a $350,000 grant to the DSO for music
education initiatives, including its involvement in the prestigious
Spring for Music
festival that showcases five symphony orchestras from across North
America. The DSO is the first orchestra invited to perform two programs
during the event.
In addition to funding from the GM Foundation, Cadillac will
transport the musicians and a number of special guests during the
week-long festival.
“We are celebrating this trip to Carnegie Hall as a symbol of
Detroit’s resilience and withstanding excellence,” said Anne Parsons,
DSO president and CEO. “We are thrilled that the General Motors
Foundation and Cadillac will be by our side as a partner with Leonard
Slatkin and the DSO under the spotlight of this important festival.”
The GM Foundation has a long-standing history of supporting the DSO
and community arts programs. Over the past decade, the Foundation has
donated nearly $1.5 million to the DSO to help bring world-class music
to the Detroit community and support the musicians who share a passion
for the city. The Foundation’s support of Detroit-based nonprofits and
cultural institutions over the past decade totals nearly $21.5 million.
“Detroit’s revitalization can be seen in the strength of the DSO,
which has long been a beacon and cultural pillar within the city’s arts
community,” said GM North America President Mark Reuss, vice chairman of
the GM Foundation. “Together with Cadillac, we look forward to the
DSO’s triumphant return to Carnegie Hall.”
About DSO’s Carnegie Hall Performances
May 7, 2013
Prior to the DSO performances in New York City, the public is invited to
attend a special sendoff concert on May 7 at the DSO’s Orchestra Hall
in Detroit. All tickets are $25.
May 9, 2013
The first performance will feature Kurt Weill’s ballet
The Seven Deadly Sins,
starring cabaret singer Storm Large on lead vocals. Originally written
for Weill’s wife, Lotte Lenya, in collaboration with Bertolt Brecht, the
work premiered in Paris in 1933 after Weill fled persecution in his
native Germany. It tells the tale of what could be two sisters or a
split personality as they set out on a tour of American cities each
represented by a different sin. The ballet is a bitter satire on
bourgeoisie exploitation. Also on the program are Ravel’s La Valse, and
Rachmaninoff’s
Caprice Bohemian and
Isle of the Dead.
Isle of the Dead will appear on the DSO’s third and final CD of Rachmaninoff’s symphonic works to be released on the Naxos label in 2013.
May 10, 2013
The second performance consists of all four Charles Ives symphonies, a
debut for the DSO as well as for Carnegie Hall. Music Director Leonard
Slatkin chose an immersion into Ives in pursuit of showcasing the
strength, sound, ensemble and style that is uniquely Detroit.
Long known for celebrating American repertoire through recordings and
commissions, telling Ives’ biographical story through the consecutive
performances of all his symphonic works serves as a tribute to both
Slatkin’s affinity for American compositions and Detroit’s longtime
acquaintance with the American school. Slatkin, who considers Ives to be
one of America’s most progressive composers of his time, imagined the
four-symphony program as a way to familiarize the audience with his
style.
Live Broadcasts on WRCJ-FM
Each DSO concert will be broadcast live on Detroit’s WRCJ-FM (90.9).
For more details about the DSO performances at Carnegie Hall, or to reserve tickets, visit dso.org/carnegiehall.
About Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The internationally acclaimed Detroit Symphony Orchestra, which
celebrated its 125th anniversary in December 2012, is known for
trailblazing performances, visionary maestros, collaborations with the
world’s foremost musical artists, and an unwavering commitment to
Detroit. Esteemed conductor Leonard Slatkin, called “America’s Music
Director” by the Los Angeles Times, became the 12th Music Director of
the DSO during the 2008-09 season and acclaimed conductor, arranger, and
trumpeter Jeff Tyzik was appointed Principal Pops Conductor in November
2012. The DSO’s performance schedule includes Classical, Pops, Jazz,
Young People’s, Neighborhood concerts, and collaborations with
chart-topping musicians from Smokey Robinson to Kid Rock. A commitment
to broadcast innovation began in 1922 when the DSO became the first
orchestra in the world to present a radio broadcast and continues today
with the free Live from Orchestra Hall webcast series. Making its home
at historic Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center, one of
America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, the DSO actively
pursues a mission to impact and serve the community through music. For
more information visit dso.org or download the free DSO to Go mobile
app.
About General Motors Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of
millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and
to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on
supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy
and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where
GM operates. Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM. The
last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more
information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.
About Cadillac
Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent
years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful
engineering and advanced technology. More information on Cadillac can be
found at media.cadillac.com.
*Courtesy of Cadillac News
